What Do Numbers Mean in Diabetes?
Diabetes is a disease in which a patient has problems with their blood sugar levels. In Type 1 Diabetes, patients do not produce the proper amount of sugar and must inject insulin into the body as needed. Type 2 Diabetes is when the body does not use the sugar intake properly and gestational diabetes develops in women during pregnancy. All diabetes patients must maintain a certain number to control their diabetes.
Nearly two million people worldwide suffer from diabetes, this is almost five percent of the world’s population. Calculating diabetic numbers requires a sample of blood to be placed on a meter. The meter will measure the amount of sugar in the blood and display it in numerical form. Patients should have an understanding of what these numbers mean.
These meters are technologically advanced enough to save testing results for over a month. Patients can compare their results and adjust their eating habits and exercise regimen accordingly. Patients are encouraged to take the test when fasting (not eating food for at least 12 hours) and take the test two hours after eating a meal. The results of these two tests can help doctors and patients determine the best way to manage diabetes.
According to the American Diabetes Association, adults with diabetes should keep their blood sugar range within the normal 70 to 130 mg. This number may spike to, but should not exceed, 180 mg after eating a meal.
Because levels of blood sugar can vary, keeping track of milligrams may not be specific enough for some people with diabetes. Many patients also keep track of their diabetes with a hemoglobin A1c test (also known as HbA1c, glycohemoglobin or glycated hemoglobin test). These numbers are calculated as a percentage of insulin in the blood over a period of time. The average blood glucose level is converted into a percent with the HbA1c test. For a normal level of 120 mg the HbA1c percent would be 6. Normal test numbers from 70 to 180 mg result in percentages of 4 to 8. Any percent less than four means that the percentage of sugar in the blood is not high enough and patients may feel dizzy or weak. Percentages over 10 mean that the patient is not processing sugars properly and need to alter food intake or exercise. For multiple readings that are too low or too high, patients should seek advice from a medical professional.